COUNT CONTINUES: Mason transit issue failing by small margin

It could be several days before Mason County residents know whether their bus service will be cut or expanded.

With 12,173 ballots counted Tuesday night, a proposition to increase local sales taxes was failing by 19 votes, 6,039 to 6,020.

Mason Transit receives a state-low two-tenths of 1 percent of each dollar spent on taxable items in Mason County. That's 2 cents for every $10.

It asked voters for the authority to add another four-tenths of 1 percent, although the board would probably impose only half of that now. That would generate $600,000 to $700,000 more per year, costing each Mason resident about $30 annually.

"It's going to go right down to looking at those chads," Mason Transit executive director Dave O'Connell joked. "I guess I'll have to go down there and demand a recount."

Transit officials could have done a better job of educating the community and correcting erroneous information, O'Connell said.

"I do feel that more knowledge needed to be provided to the community," he said. "A lot of people were not aware of the various services, were not aware of how transit affects them or about how efficiently it operates."

The Initiative 695-inspired repeal of the state motor vehicle excise tax in November 1999 took half of Mason Transit's operating revenues. Projecting a budget shortfall of more than $1 million this year, it eliminated Saturday service in February, cut two routes, including the Belfair Loop, and trimmed one of four runs between Belfair and Bremerton.

If the proposition passes, Saturday service would be quickly restored, O'Connell said, despite the tax increase not kicking in until January. New dollars would also enable the agency to replenish accounts for equipment replacement and for developing a new facility.

If the measure fails, the 8-year-old transit system will cut more.

"I guess we just have to wait," O'Connell said.

Results are posted on the auditor's Web site, auditor.co.mason.wa.us.

Reach reporter Ed Friedrich at (360) 415-2679 or at efriedrich@thesunlink.com.

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